10 Huge Accomplishments For People of Color in 2018

People of color have made tremendous strides in entertainment, politics and sports in 2018. This year, box office records were broken by Marvel’s Black Panther, Crazy Rich Asians became the highest-grossing romantic comedy in a decade and women made history at the midterm elections, helping the Democratic Party regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

It was a banner year of firsts for Black people, one that left many people asking why it’s taken so long for Black folks to make history.

Here are 10 historic firsts from people of color that helped define 2018.

Beyoncé- First Black Woman to Headline Coachella

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter made history in April by becoming the first Black woman to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in its 20-year history. She was originally supposed to perform at the annual festival in 2017 but dropped out because of her pregnancy with twins Rumi Carter and Sir Carter.

Beyoncé’s performance, nicknamed “Beychella,” paid tribute to marching bands from HBCUs and featured songs with husband JAY-Z, and former Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

The Formation singer electrified audiences, both at home and in the middle of California’s Colorado desert, for the almost two-hour set, which proved, once again, why she’s “The Queen.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez- Youngest woman elected to Congress

Washington DC/USA- November 13, 2018:Student activists with the Sunrise Movement occupy Nancy Pelosi’s office to demand that she and the Democrats act on climate change

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made history in November by becoming the youngest woman elected to Congress. Ocasio-Cortez was a virtual shoo-in after defeating Democrat Joe Crowley in the Democratic Primary for New York’s 14th Congressional District in June, in what was one of the biggest political shockers of the year.

Black Panther- The first movie to make over $1 billion at the box office with a predominately Black cast

Black Panther was a tour de force at the worldwide box office. The blockbuster, released in February, has earned more than $1.3 billion at the global box office, becoming the first movie with a predominately Black cast to achieve that feat.

During its meteoric run, Black Panther became the third-highest grossing film at the North American box office, having made $700 million and earned the distinction of being the most tweeted about film of all time.

Director Ryan Coogler has signed on to write and direct a sequel to the record-breaking movie.

Osaka, who was born in Japan and represented the country at the Open, began playing tennis when was 3 years old after moving to New York. The tennis champ’s mother is Japanese and her father is Haitian.

The Haitian-Japanese player’s match against Williams made international headlines after the 23-time Grand Slam champion received penalties from the chair umpire, who accused her of cheating.

Ayanna Pressley-First Black Congresswoman from Massachusetts

Screenshot from Ayanna Pressley’s victory speech

Ayanna Pressley defeated 10-term incumbent Michael Capuano in September during the Democratic Primary in Massachusetts, all but ensuring that she becomes the first Black female congresswoman to represent the state since she would be facing no Republican challenger in the midterm elections.

Video of a shocked and emotional Pressley after her victory was announced quickly went viral on social media.

Tyler Mitchell made history in September after he became the first Black photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue magazine in its 126-year history. Beyoncé, who was the cover star for the magazine’s popular September issue and was given “unprecedented control” over the shoot, handpicked Mitchell.

Beyoncé on the cover of VOGUE magazine

“I depict black people and people of color in a really real and pure way,” Mitchell told The New York Times last December. “There is an honest gaze to my photos.”

Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids- First Native American women elected to Congress

The 2018 midterm elections were a historic moment for women. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) and Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) became the first Native American women elected to Congress. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, ran against Republican Janice Arnold-Jones for a seat in New Mexico’s heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District.

Davids not only made history by becoming one of two Native American women elected to Congress, but also by being the first openly LGBTQ member to represent Kansas. She defeated Kansas GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

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